Real time card stunt method

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a novel method for performing a stadium card stunt. By utilizing a digital notice method and audience participating real time card stunts can be performed.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patentdisclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent filesor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to stadium card stunts. In particular, itrelates to a novel method for performing stadium stunts that is morecost effective and allows for a shorter lead time or even real time toachieve the stunt.

2. Description of Related Art

A card stunt, which is usually performed in some form of a stadium, is aplanned coordinated action wherein audience members each raise a card ofa particular color such that when combined create a recognizable imagewhen the entire audience holding the cards are viewed at a distance.While frequently associated with American football games, the stuntshave been performed in both indoor and outdoor stadiums for most sportsand any event where large audiences can collect. The stunts are notalways limited to cards, but things such as tiles, umbrellas,flashlights, reflective surfaces, booklets, and the like, have beenutilized for these stunts.

Typically, the process involves laying out a pattern based on theparticular seating of a stadium. This can be done manually or as abitmap on a computer. Next, the particular card, surface, tile, or thelike is ordered in qualities for the individual image number of audiencemembers. After receipt of the cards, the cards must be distributed tothe individual seats, followed by section coordinators who giveinstructions to the audience and time the holding up of the cards. Theprocess is not only labor intensive, but takes a great deal of time toaccomplish with cueing problems, card placements, and the like. Theprocess works fine with long lead times, but absent the proper leadtime, card stunts cannot be done.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to creating a card stunt wherein theinformation as to what each location is to be in terms of a card stuntcard by loading the information onto a computer or the internet, andallowing the audience member to contact or be contacted by the computeror internet, and being responsible for supplying the appropriate cardfor the card stunt. The current method allows for a lower cost cardstunt and can be accomplished quickly and even accomplished in realtime.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a method of performing acard stunt to present a selected design with a plurality of audiencemembers, each member having a selected location comprising:

-   -   a) creating bitmap information of the selected design using the        members location during the stunt;    -   b) loading the bitmap information onto an internet location,        computer or server;    -   c) audience members receiving the bitmap information for their        selected location from the internet, computer or server; and    -   d) audience members collectively performing the card stunt at a        selected time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a relational map of the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein, be described indetail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of theprinciples and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals are used to describe the same, similar orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detaileddescription defines the meaning of the terms used herein andspecifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the artto practice the invention.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as morethan one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or asmore than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of thepresent invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in variousplaces throughout this specification are not necessarily all referringto the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein, is to be interpreted as an inclusive ormeaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any ofthe following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. Anexception to this definition will occur only when a combination ofelements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutuallyexclusive.

The drawing(s) featured in the figures are for the purpose ofillustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention,and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term “means”preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desiredfunction for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or moremethods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function andthat one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalentin view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is notintended to be limiting.

As used herein the term “card stunt” refers to gathering a number ofaudience members such as in a stadium, bleachers or the like and eachmember having a color card such that when the audience is viewed as awhole, the cards merge to present a selected message. As used herein theterm “card” refers to an object of a particular color that is used in acard stunt. While cards are the typical card used in stunts, othercolored objects, such as tee shirts, lights, lights on objects, caps,bibs, pieces of paper, body paint, poncho or any colored object or pieceof clothing that serves the purposes of a card in a card stunt arewithin the definition of card herein. Cards can be reversible ormultiple colors or people can utilize multiple cards. For example, areversible bib with white on one side and red on another could beutilized.

As used herein a “selected design” refers to a pattern or words selectedto create an image in the card stunt manner. Because the presentinvention shortens the time to prepare and deliver such a message, realtime messages can be created. For example, the present game score,comment on a play, message to the opposing team, or the like couldvirtually instantly be viewed. For example, the audience members couldall receive a cell phone call or text message, and put together amessage during the game or event. Where each audience member hasmultiple cards then the selected card could be so indicated.

As used herein the audience member “selected location” means theseating/standing, etc. position in a stadium, bleacher, or the like, orjust where a group of people are assigned to gather together where acard stunt could be accomplished. Each position must be known as in allcard stunts and the assigned position becomes a “bit” in a bitmap of aparticular selected design to be created. Once the location of each bitis known and the design selected, a bitmap information can be created.As used herein “bitmap information” relates to the color of each bit forthe card stunt such that when performed, the colored bits create thedesired design. The bitmap is created by loading the information onto acomputer, server, or the like such that the bitmap information is loadedinto memory in a means that it can be transferred to each audiencemember.

The bitmap information must be loaded to the internet, a computer,server, or the like. By providing the bitmap information on a digitalsource device, it is easy to create a means for the audience member tosee information for their particular bit. The audience member receivesthe bitmap information from the particular digital machine via anyconvenient means. Examples include a web site, e-mails, text messaging,cell phone calls and the like. This system allows quick distribution ofthe bitmap information, even in real time during the audience sportingevent or other event. Wireless methods of activation of the card arealso contemplated.

Once all the audience members have either gotten their bitmapinformation or been sent their bitmap information, the audience memberscan perform the card stunt at a selected time. This is accomplished byputting on a shirt, a cap, holding up a card or cards, or any method forperforming a card stunt. In the event a real time stunt or stunts areperformed, the audience members can change their card out for a new cardas necessary.

Now referring to the drawing for an embodiment of the present inventionmethod, FIG. 1 is a relationship and flow chart. In this embodiment,coordinator 1 is the person, company, or the like, running theparticular method of the invention. The coordinator 1 decides on theparticular message 2 by any means. Thus, the coordinator could pick themessage, the person utilizing the method, the audience, a school sportsteam or the like. In the particular message 2, there are two examples.First, “go Bears” could be a rally cry for a particular sports team.This type of message could be decided long before the game starts. Theother message “2-1, we win” could represent a score in the middle or endof a game, and only be a practical message in real time. As one can seeeither type message as desired, could be utilized in the presentinvention. The coordinator 1 also gathers information about the locationof each audience member 3 that will be participating in the stunt. Asnoted above, this could be stadium, bleacher seating, or just a locationof a group standing in a field. The coordinator 1 then using a computerprogram combines the message with the audience member locations tocreate a bitmap information 4. The bitmap information 4 is created in adigital format and can then be stored on this computer, a servercomputer, the internet 6, or a combination thereof to make theinformation for each audience member available. The information can bethe particular color of a shirt, card or other item defined above as a“card”.

The audience member then can get the bitmap information 7 from thecomputer, the server, or the internet via a digital transfer method,such as e-mail, cell phone, text message, accessing an internet site, orthe like as necessary so that audience member 8 will know what time andwhat to utilize for the card stunt. The audience member 8 then collectsor gathers one or more cards as necessary for the stunt 9 and notes thetime, etc. for performing the stunt from the information 7. Then at theappointed time, the audience member 8 performs the stunt 10. The stuntor other stunt can be repeated in the same manner during the desiredevent either in real time or prepared as necessary.

Other items can be color coordinated with audience members with cardstunt. For example, items received at the event, such as tickets,pennants, etc. One can be the same color as the audience membercolor(s).

The above embodiment is not intended to be limiting, but the applicantreserves the right to utilize the particular embodiment in a limitingfashion. One skilled in the art could understand substitutions and thelike in view of the disclosure herein, and such substitutions areintended except where noted otherwise.

1. A method of performing a card stunt to present a selected design witha plurality of audience members, each member having a selected locationcomprising: a) creating bitmap information of the selected design usingthe members location during the stunt; b) loading the bitmap informationonto an internet location or server; c) audience members receiving thebitmap information for their selected location from the internet,computer or server via a digital transfer; and d) audience memberscollectively performing the card stunt at a selected time.
 2. A methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the members search the internet to find thebitmap information for their selected location.
 3. A method according toclaim 1 wherein the members connect to a server to find the bitmapinformation for their selected location.
 4. A method according to claim1 wherein the members and server are connected for finding the bitmapinformation via a cell phone message, e-mail or text message sent toeach member.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bitmapinformation is created on a computer.
 6. A method according to claim 1wherein the card stunt is created in real time.
 7. A method according toclaim 1 wherein the card is a piece of clothing.
 8. A method accordingto claim 1 wherein the card is a tee shirt.
 9. A method according toclaim 1 wherein the audience member has multiple cards of differentcolors.
 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the audience memberuses body paint as the color for the card stunt.